Drier.



` H. WILSON.

DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21, 1912.'

` 1,087,473, Patented Feb. 17,1914.A

WITNESS IN VEN TOR 'itiltbllll HARRY WILSON, 0F SAN FRANCISCQ,CALIFORNA, ASSIGNOR T0 PACIFC KELP G0.,

- OF SAN FRAN CISCO, CALFGRNI, A CGBPOEATN @E CLXFORNI.

DRIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.l

Patented Feb, 17, d.

Application led ctooer 2.1, 191,2. Serial No. 726,887. l

State of California, have invented new andy useful Improvements inDriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanical device for the purpose ofevaporating moisture from any organicr matter in which the animalorganisms are very active and the chemical properties such thatdisintegration commences immediately upon exposure to the air.

The present apparatus is designed for drying keip. Kelp left .in theopen air for 48 hours will lose 50% of itsweight, but in so doing willalso lose 20% of its value, as irnmediately on exposure to the air itexudes moisture from every pore and cell and this moisture is asaturated solution of potassium chlorid. Therefore anl economical driermust preserve all of the original incisture the kelp contained whenfirst taken from the Water. Kelp dried in the open air has eiilorescedand lost 20% of the potassium chloridtliat it first contained,therefore, a practical drier must complete its Work within a closedcompartment where all of the dripping moisture and eilloresced salts arerecovered. When kelp is dried in a closed conipartment on stationarypans or trays with the temperature below 100 C. the vegetable cellsbreak down and the animal organisms become immediately active, causingal oontinual leakage of valuable matter and a waste of heat and time tocomplete the process. Therefore, a successful drier using a heat of 1000C. must keep the kelp in ccnstant motion to prevent the vegetable cellsfrom breaking down and the animal organisms frorn becoming active. Whenkelp is dried in a closed compartment when the temperature exceeds 100DC. all of the 40% free iodin, all of the acetone, acetic acid andalcohol will vaporize and pass off. Therefore, the drier must work at atemperature less than 100l C. to be economical and ellicient. The drierWhichl have constructed covers all of these points and will give 30%more efficiency than any known process at the present time.

The drawing is a vertical section representing the invention.

shaft connected to motive power; B, gravity distillate burner; C, heatconduits; l), inner shaft connectin motive power with exhaust fan; E,outer s aft sustaining cenconnecting outer shaft with motive power; G,.bevel gear or friction connecting inner shaft with motive power; H,bevel gear or friction connecting motive power with inner shaft; I, ballbearing rollers sustaining weight of inner shaft and centrifugal disks;Jiron revolving plane connecting With rollers l and supporting outershaft and centrifugal disks; K, centrifugal disks and tables upon whichmaterial lodges alternately; L, annular disks guiding material towardthe center after being discharged by centrifugal disks K; M, outer shellconstructed in suitable segments; N, discharge pipe, properly screenedto prevent the discharge of any light material passing above the fan P;0, lateral braces to sustain shafts E and D in a perpendicular position;exhaust fan or aspirator propelled by shaft D for creating a draftthrough the apparatus in opposite direction to the travel of the drying.niaterial; R, a proper elevator for the material to be handied. n

The arrows indicate the progress of the material from the elevator toits -iinal discharge.

The bevel gear or frictions used to propel the shafts shall be in suchproportion as di'erent materials may require, and the speed with whichthese shafts are operated .will determine the volume of material which'can be evaporated. This evaporator is especially designed to evaporatevto drynessnthe ocean kelpsor sea-weeds which the aniorganisrns are soactive and the chemical composition of such a nature that disintegrationcommences immediately upon their exposure to the air and also thenecessity of an evaporator Where the eiiloresced salts may be held in aclosed lcompartment.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to Vsecureby Letters Patent is- A device of the class described comprising anouter shell, a plurality of stationary hoppers arranged in series oneabove the other within said shell, a draft pipe at the upper end of saidshell, a hollow 4vertical trifugal disks; F, bevel gear or friction ishaft within sail shell, a phiraiity of fiat disks arranged in seriesone above the other on said hollow shaft, gearing for rotating saidhollow shaft, an inner shaft mounted within said hollow shaft, a fancarried on the upper end of said inner shaft and above said Hat diskstoereate an upward current Aof air through said shell when said fan isoperated, and gearing located beneath said. Y

disks for rotating said inner shaft to oper- 1o ate said fan.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HARRY WXLSON.

Vtnesses: JOHN H. HERRING, EMMA B. bRU.

